Looking for linocut artwork and links to published essays? Find them at hollylynnesmith.com.

I’m still learning. Care to join me?

My name is Holly Lynne Smith, and I’m the sort of person who derives much satisfaction from the fact that each component of my name contains exactly five letters. I am an avid proponent of em dashes, and my three favorite words in the English language are saucepan, acorn, and gubernatorial.

My primary goal in writing is to encourage the pursuit of an embodied faith that is materialized in the exaltation of the risen Christ, in investment within the local and global church, and in compassionate advocacy for the vulnerable. Here you can expect to see reflections on spiritual virtue; embodiment and material culture; mental and emotional health; and participation within the community and family. Read more about my goals for this Substack here.

I have worked in the field of publications as an editor and proofreader since 2014, and my academic background is in ancient Near Eastern languages and archaeology, biblical exegesis, and systematic theology. But aside from my “pretty” credentials, my writing is equally influenced by my past experience enduring years of severe, treatment-resistant depression.

I am neither a prophet nor the daughter of a prophet, and my intent in writing will never be to preach down upon you. I practice writing as an exercise in learning, and in my opinion, the primary goal in learning is not to grow in dispassionate knowledge, but to grow in charity, humility, and compassion.

I’m a stay-at-home mother of three sons, and I’m married to Chris. He’s that tall guy over there—the one with the big beard. Our family lives in my hometown suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia.

For little snapshots into my life, you can follow me on Instagram. Thanks so much for stopping by, and I’m glad that you’re my neighbor.

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I’m committed to keeping this Substack paywall-free, but if you enjoy what you read here, I greatly appreciate your subscriptions! While I don’t take any particular pride in my follower count, subscriptions do motivate me to continue sharing what I’m learning with the public.